Paper deflector



Dec. 16, 1930. L. R. TUFTS ETAL PAPER DEFLEC'IOR Filed July 16. 1928 4Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 16, 1930. L. R. TUFTS ET AL PAPER DEFLECTOR FiledJuly 16. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHHUMH Dec. 16, 1930. L. R. TUFTS ETALPAPER DEFLECTOR Filed July 1a. 1928 4sneezs-sheet f/fI/II/fllffflfl Dec.16, 1930. L. R. -ru 'rs ET AL PAPER DEFLECTOR Filed July 16, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5.

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Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca LESLEY B. 'IU'ITS, OFEAST CLEVELAND, AND ANDREW OLSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THECLEVELAND FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY; OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO,-A CORPORATION 01 OHIO PAPER DEFLECTOE Application filed July 16,1925. Serial No. 293,278.

This invention relates to improvements in paper deflectors, that ismechanism for directing into a pluralit of different courses thesuccessive sheets 0 paper traveling in a iven path. The invention findsspecial utillty when employed in connection with folding machines wherelarge printed sheets are handled, these sheets being cut into aplurality of parts and folded to make signatures or pamphlets which itis usually desirable to stack separately.

The princi a1 object of our invention, therefore, is t e provision of asim 1e and effective deflector mechanism for directing successive sheetsinto different courses as the sheets are fed from a folding machine orother paper handling machine.

Another object is the provision of means located in each of the coursestaken by the sheets, and adapted to be set in motion by the travel ofthe sheets themselves, for swinging or flipping the deflector, said twomeans being preferably interconnected whereby the actuation of oneserves to set the other back into position to be actuated.

A further object is the provision of means for shifting or flipping thedeflector before the rear edge of the sheet has passed the forward edgeof the deflector, whereby the deflector is in position to properlydirect the next succeeding sheet no matter how closely they are spaced,and in fact even though no space at all intervenes.

Still another object is the mounting of the movable shoes which areengaged by the paper in such manner'that they can yield slightlywhenever the necessity arises, as for instance when an unusually thicksheet of paper travels past them.

A further object is the rovision of electrical means for shiftin t edeflector, such means being controlled y the travel of the sheetsthemselves.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as we proceed with thedescription of that embodiment of our invention which, for the purposesof the present application, we have shown in the accompanying drawin sin which:

igure 1.is a side elevational view of a sorting and stacking machineembodying the inventlon, a fra nent of a folding machine from which foled sheets may be delivered into the sorting and stacking machine beingalso illustrated. I

Fig. 2 is a plan view, partially in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a large scale vertical, sectional, detail view takensubstantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2, showing a sheet of apertraveling along the upper of two diiiiarent courses.

- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the parts in the positionthey occupy when a sheet is traveling along the lower of the twocourses.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same nature as Figs. 3 and 4,but showing electrical means for flipping the deflector.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections forthe apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

In the drawings we have shown at 10 fragments of the frame of a foldingmachine at the delivery end thereof. The final fold plate of thismachine is indicated at 11 and the final pair of fold rolls at 12. 13 isa guide plate by means of which the folded sheets are directed into apair of feed rolls 14. The latter are interconnected by intermeshinggears 15 and 16, which are driven by suitable gearing, as for instanceby spur gears 17 and 18 and bevel gears 19 and 20, the bevel gear 20being keyed to a driven shaft 21.

The sorting and stacking mechanism in whlch our invention is embodied ispreferably mounted upon a separate frame 22, permitting the movement ofthe mechanism out of operative relation with the folding machine whennot needed. Mounted upon a stub shaft 23 supported in the frame 22 there1s an idler gear 24 which is adapted to mesh wlth the gear 25 pinned tothe shaft of the lower feed roll 14. By this means motive power istransmitted to the sorting and stacking machine from the foldingmachine.

A fixed guide 26 is mounted in the frame 22 1n posltion to direct sheetsdelivered from feed rolls 14 into receiving feed rolls 27, 28constltutlng partof the sorting and stack- [ill ing mechanism. Theselatter rolls are driven through the idler 24'by means of gears 29, 30.

The shaft of roll 27 carries on its rear end as viewed in Fig. 2, a gear31 which meshes with an idler 32 rotatably supported on the outside ofthe frame. A gear 33, meshing with gear 32, is secured u on the end of afeed roll 34, the shaft of w ich is journaled in the walls of the casing22. This roll is furnished with a series of rubber wheels 35 andconstitutes one of the upper pair of feed rolls of the sortingmechanism. The other roll of this pair is an all-metal roll 36 which hasend portions of reduced size journaled in the walls of the frame, onesuch end portion carry gears extending beyond the frame and having agear 37 attac ed thereto which meshes with gear 33. The peripheralspeeds of the wheels and the roll 36 are the same or substantially thesame. Below the rolls 34, 36 there is another similar pair consistin ofan allmetal roll 38 and a roll 39 with ru ber wheels 40. On the rearside of the machine, under gears 31 and 32 the shafts of rolls 38, 39

41, 42 respectively which intermesh, the gear 41 being driven from gear37.

In front of the rolls 36, 38 and between those rolls and the feed rolls27, 28, there is a movable deflector 43 of triangular shape in crosssection which is mounted in the walls of the frame upon trunions 44,being adapted to be swung from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4and vice versa. Means are provided for flipping the deflector from oneposition to the other, and this means preferably comprises swingingshoes 45, 46 of identical form, the free ends of which extend into theproximity of the surfaces of rolls 36 and 38 respectively, so that theyare adapted to be engaged by sheets of paper passing over the surfacesof those rolls.

The shoe is secured to the inner end of a spindle 47. This spindle has acurved bearing portion 48 mounted to turn in a bushing 49 that iscarried in one end of a lever 50,

whereby a bearing and support for the inner end of the spindle isprovided. The lever 50 is pivoted upon a pin 51 threaded into a portionof a bracket 52 which extends inwardly from the frame 22. The oppositeend of the lever rests u on a coil spring 53 which bears against anot erportion of the bracket 52. The lever 50 is adjustable through a smallangle by means of an adjusting screw 54 threaded into the bracket 52 andadapted to be held in any position of adjustment by a lock nut 55.Manipulation of the screw 54 raises or lowers the inner end of thespindle 47 and with it the shoe 45, as will be apparent. Near itsforward end the spindle 47 has a second curved bearing portion 56 thatis mounted to turn in a bushing 57 carried in the front wall of theframe. Outside the frame the spindle has attached thereto a crank 58.

shoe 45, for examp e, swin The shoe 46 is inverted and attached to aspindle 59 similar in every respect to the spindle 47 and similarlymounted, the inner end being'oscillatable in a bushing 60 which upon apin 62 supported in a bracket The opposite end of the lever 61 isadjustable between a coil spring 64 and an adjusting screw 65 carried bythe bracket 63 in a manner exactly similar to that employed inconnection with the lever 50.

On the outer end of the s indle 59 there is a crank 66. The two cran s58 and 66 are pivotally connected to a link 67 in which may be embodiedmeans for varying some- I what the length of the link. By thisconnection it will be a parent that when the toward the right, or fromthe position 0 Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, the shoe 46 will swing towardthe left as illustrated in the same figures.

The spindle 59 is provided with a second crank 68 extending 1n adirection substantially opposite to that of crank 66 and pivotallyconnected by a link 69 with a crank 70 attached to one of the trunnionsof the deflector 43. Hence whenever the s indle 59 moves in onedirection or the other t e deflector 43 swin accordingly.

The particu ar means employed for col-.

lecting and stacking the sheets traveling in the two different coursesmay vary in practice, but we have illustrated herein one arrangementwhich is suitable for the purpose. It includes an upper endless conveyor71 mounted upon rollers 72 and 73 and driven at low speed by a train ofreducing gears as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This means alsoincludes a lower endless belt 74 extending transversely of the belt 71and carried upon rollers 75 and 76. The roller 75 has keyed thereto aworm wheel 77 with which meshes a worm 78 upon the forward end of theshaft of roll 38, and by this means the belt 74 is also driven at lowspeed. Folded sheets are delivered onto the belt 74 in a. directiontransverse to the length of the belt, and means are provided forstopping their movement in the latter direction such, for instance, as afence 79 carried by a rod 80 adjustably mounted in the frame of themachine.

In the ,form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 the mechanism issimilar to that above described except for the fact that there is nomechanical connection between the shoes and the deflector, the swingingof the latter from one position to the other being accomplished byelectrical means. To this end there is mounted upon the link 67 a blockof insulation 80 upon which is carried a metal finger 81 to which isattached a flexible wire connection 82 leading from an electrical main83. The finger 81 is adapted, when at either extreme of its movement, tocontact elec- 15 mounted in one end of a lever 61 pivoted mete.

trically,-with one of two sprin fingers 84 and 85. 'The finger84isconnecte b an elec trio conductor 86 with one end 0 the coil of anelectro-magnet 87, while the finger 85 is connected b a conductor 88with one end of the coil 0 a similar electro-magnet 89. The ad'acentends of the two coils are connected y a conductor 90 from which acondoctor 91 leads to the other main 92. The coils of the two magnets 87and 89 are arranged in alignment, and they have a common armature 93which is loosely attached to a crank 94 upon one of the trunnions 44 ofthe deflector 43 a pin and slot connection 95, as illustrated, beinsuitable for the purpose.

Operation. olded sheets, as indicated at A and B, Figs. 3 and 4, movesingle file through the feed rolls 14 of the folding machine and thencethrough the feed rolls 27, 28 of the sorting and stacking machine. Thesheet A strikes the upper side of the deflector 43 and by it, isdirected between the rolls 35 and 36, these rolls being driven asheretofore explained. The front edge of the sheet, passing between thehard surfaced roll 36 and the shoe 45, causes the latter to swing towardthe ri ht, that is from the position illustrated in ig. 3 to theposition illustrated in Fig. 4. The sheet continues its movement and isdelivered onto the belt 71 as indicated at A in Fig. 3.

Thmswinging of the shoe 45 to the right raises crank 58 and with it link67 which in turn raises crank 66 on the lower s indle 59,

. thereby swinging shoe 46 to the le that is from its positionillustrated in Fig. 3 to that illustrated in Fig. 4. The shoe 46 is thusplaced in position to be actuated. At the same time the crank 68 swingsdownwardly to the position of Fig. 4, pulling downwardly on the link 69,which swings the crank 70 downwardly and rocks the deflector 43 uponiEts trunnions 44 to the position illustrated in The next succeedingsheet delivered from the feed rolls 27, 28 indicated at B in Fig. 4,strikes the lower side of deflector 43 and is directed downwardlybetween rolls 38, 39. The travel of the forward ed e of the sheetthrough these rolls causes the s ca 46 to swing toward the ri ht fromthe position illustrated in Fig. 4 to t at illustrated in Fig. 3. Thesheet continues its travel and drops onto the belt 74 as indicated indotted lines at B in Fig. 4. The swinging of the shoe 46 to the rightacts through the cranks 56 and 58 and link 57 to swing the shoe 45 backagain into the position of Fig. 3, in other words sets it for actuationby the next sheet traveling over the upper course. Thus the movement ofone shoe is always transmitted to the other shoe in order to set thelatter for the next operation.

The bearings for the inner ends of the spindles 47 and 59 may beadjusted independently by means of screws 54 and which work through thelevers 50 and 61 to raise or'lower the inner ends of the s indles. Thecurved bearing surfaces 48 an 56 of the upper spindle and similarbearing surfaces on the lower spindle permit slight changes in theangular positions of the spindles, due to the adjustments mentioned anddue also to any momentar the inner ends of the spind es caused by extrathicknesses of paper engaging with the shoes. "Such movements areermitted by the resiliency of's rings 53 an 64 which, of course,immediately return the. levers 50 and 61 to their original positionsafter the obstruction asses.

Success1ve sheets delivered from the folding machine are thus directedin different courses onto the up er and lower belts 71 and 74respectively. pamphlets or signatures are printed upon a single sheetand are cut apart and folded on the folding machine and transmitted tothe present sorting and stacking machine, all of the pamphlets orsignatures of one kind are caused to travel in one course onto the upperbelt 71 and all of the other kind are caused to travel in the othercourse onto the lower belt 7 4. The belts 71 and 74 are of the slowmoving type emplo ed in stackers and their functions and mo e ofoperation are well known in the art. While I have shown one of themarranged transversely to the other, such an arrangement is not at allessential, as they may both run in the same direction if deslred.

The deflector flipping mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5 functionssimilarly to that previously described, but the operation of thedeflector itself is not dependent upon the force exerted by the movingsheet. This force must be strong enough only to shift the contact finger81, whereupon electric current in the magnet 87 or 89, as the case mayhe, does the work of swinging the deflector. The flow of current throughthe magnets 87 and 89 alternately between the two sides 83, 92 of theelectric mains, as the block 80 moves up and down with the link 67, willbe obvious from a mere inspection of Fig. 6.

Having thus described our invention we claim:

1. In a paper handling machine, two pairs of feed rolls, each pairadapted to direct sheets into a separate course, a deflector arranged infront of said pairs, and means associated with each of said pairs andadapted to be set in motion b thetravel of a sheet therethrough formoving said deflector to direct a succeeding sheet into the other pair.

2. In a paper handling machine, two feeders, a deflector arranged infront of said feeders, and means associated with one ofsaid feeders andadapted to be set in motion by the travel of a sheet therethrough forbus where two differentmovements of I moving said deflector to directthe next succeeding sheet into the other feeder.

3. In a aper handling machine, two feeders, a de ector arranged in frontof said feeders, and means associated with each of said feeders ada tedto be set in motion by the travel of a s ect therethrough for movingsaid deflector to direct a succeeding sheet into the other feeder.

4. In a paper handling machine, a aper feeder, a deflector arranged infront 0 said feeder, and means associated with said feeder and adaptedto be set in motion by the travel of a sheet therethrough for movingsaid deflector to direct a succeeding sheet into a course away from saidfeeder.

5. In a paper handling machine, a paper feeder, a deflector arranged infront of said feeder, means associated with said feeder and adapted tobe set in motion by the travel of a sheet therethrough for moving saiddeflector to direct a succeeding sheet into a course away from saidfeeder, and means acting to return said deflector to the first position.

6. In a paper handling machine, means for causing sheets to travelsingle file in a given path, and a deflector for directin sheets fromsaid path into either of two iflerent courses, said deflector beingtriangular in cross section and movable to carry the forward end of thetriangle across said path from one side to the other thereof, and meansdependent upon said sheet travel independently of sheet thickness forswinging said deflector back and forth.

7. In a paper handling machine, a pair of sheet feeders each adapted toreceive sheets moving in a given path, and a deflector for directingsheets from said path into either of said feeders, said deflector beingtriangular in cross section and movable to carry the forward angle ofthe triangle across said ath from one side to the other thereof, andmeans dependent upon sheet travel independently of sheet thickness forswinging said deflector back and forth.

8. In a paper handling machine, a pair of feed rolls, a deflectorarranged in front of said feed rolls, a movable shoe associated withsaid feed rolls and adapted to be shifted by the forward edge of a sheetas it travels through said rolls, and an operative connection betweensaid shoe and deflector for moving said deflector to direct a succeedlngsheet into a course away from said feed rolls.

9. In a paper handling machine. two pairs of feed rolls each adapted toreceive sheets traveling in a given path, a movable deflector arrangedin front of said pairs of rolls for directing sheets from said path 1ntoeither of said pairs of rolls, means associated with each of said pairsof rolls and adapted to be set in motion by the travel of a sheettherethrough for moving said deflector to direct the next succeedingsheet into the other pair of rolls, said twomeans being interconnectedto cause the actuation of one means to set the other means into positionfor actuation.

10. In a paper handling machine, two pairs of feed rolls each adapted toreceive sheets traveling in a given path, a movable deflector arrangedin front of said pairs of rolls for directing sheets from said path intoeither of said pairs of rolls, a movable shoe associated with each ofsaid pairs of rolls and adapted to be set in motion by the travel of asheet through the rolls, and an operative connection between each saidshoe and the said deflector for moving the latter to direct the nextsucceeding sheet into the other pair of rolls, said shoes beinginterconnected to cause the actuation of one shoe to move the other shoeback into position for actuation.

11. In a paper handling machine, two pairs of feed rolls each adapted toreceive sheets traveling in a given .path, a movable deflector arrangedin front ofsaid pairs of rolls for directing sheets from said path intoeither of said pairs of rolls, a swinging shoe associated with each ofsaid pairs of rolls and adapted to be swung by the travel of a sheetthrough the rolls, an operative connection between said shoes forcausing simultaneous reverse movements thereof, and an operativeconnection to said deflector from said shoes for moving the deflector todirect the next sheet into that pair of rolls with which is associatedthe shoe that is then in operative position.

12. In a paper handling machine, two pairs of feed rolls each adapted toreceive sheets traveling in a given path, a movable deflector arrangedin front of said pairs of rolls for directing sheets from said path intoeither of said pairs of rolls, a swinging shoe associated with each ofsaid pairs of rolls adapted to be swung by the travel of a sheet throughthe rolls, an operative connection between said shoes for causingsimultaneous reverse movements thereof, an operative connection to saiddeflector from said shoes for moving the deflector to direct a sheetinto that pair of rolls with which is associated the shoe that is thenin operative position, and resiliently mounted bearings for said shoeswhereby they may yield when subjected to {21158811115 from a thick sheetof paper or the 13. In a paperhandling machine, a sheet feeding carrieradapted to provide single file travel of sheets carried thereon, meanslocated beyond the delivery end of said carrier for directingconsecutive sheets into different courses, said means comprising apivoted shoe for each course. each of said shoes being adapted to beswung upon its pivot by the travel of a sheet, means interconnectingsaid shoes for transmitting the moveall ment of either shoe to the othershoe in an opposite direction, a movable sheet deflector adapted toguide said sheets into one or the other of said courses, and anoperative connection between said shoes and said deflector.

14. In a paper handling machine, sheet forwarding means. a plurality offeeders each adapted to receive sheets from said forwarding means. adeflector arranged in front of said feeders. and means associated withsaid feeders for moving the deflector to direct the sheets into thedifferent feeders in regular sequence.

15. In a paper handling machine, sheet forwarding means, a plurality offeeders each adapted to receive sheets from said forwarding means, adeflector arranged in front of said feeders, and means adapted to be setin motion by the travel of the sheets through said feeders for movingthe deflector to direct the sheets into the difl'erent feeders inregular sequence.

16. In a paper handling machine, means for causing sheets to travel in agiven path, deflecting means movable across said path for directingsheets therefrom into either of two different courses, and means adaptedto be set in motion by the travel of a sheet in one of said courses formoving said deflecting means to direct the next succeeding sheet intothe other course, said movement of the deflecting means being completedbefore the rear end of the first sheet reaches the said deflector means.

17. In a paper handling machine, means for causing sheets to travel in agiven path, a deflector movable across said path for directing sheetstherefrom into either of two different courses, and means adapted to beset in motion by the travel of the forward edge of a sheet in one ofsaid courses for shifting said deflector to direct a succeeding sheetinto the other course, whereby the movement of the deflector iscompleted before the rear edge of the first sheet reaches the saiddeflector.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto atlix our signatures.

LESLEY R. TUFTS. ANDREW OLSON.

